#MarchforIndia: When Anupam Kher, celebs protested against propaganda to malign India

New Delhi, Nov 7: To protest against the voices being raised over "intolerance" in India, actor Anupam Kher is leading a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

The actor said that this is an attempt to malign image of India and to target the Narendra Modi-led government.

Urging people to join his march, Kher tweeted on Saturday morning, "Patriotism gives us a feeling of self worth. Join us on this historical day at National Museum, Janpath at 10am".

Many filmmakers and artistes from the fraternity including Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashoke Pandit, Priyadarshan, Manoj Joshi, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and writer Madhu Kishwar joined the march to hand over a memorandum signed by more than 40 personalities including actress Raveena Tandon.

Bhandarkar, a National Award winner, alleged that those involved in the protest over intolerance had opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi before he was elected, which raised questions about their intention.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads MarchforIndia

To protest against the voices being raised over "intolerance" in India, actor Anupam Kher is leading a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads MarchforIndia

"Patriotism gives us a feeling of self worth. Join us on this historical day at National Museum, Janpath at 10am", said Anupam Kher on Twitter.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads MarchforIndia

People protesting against India being called 'Intolerant'.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads MarchforIndia

People ask all those who have returned their awards, why this selective approach in returning awards.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

"India is a very tolerant country. Some people have coined the term 'growing intolerance'. They are very few. Not every Indian thinks like that. We are secular people. We do not believe in pseudo-secularism, selective outrage or selective patriotism," said Kher.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

Many filmmakers and artistes from the fraternity including Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashoke Pandit, Priyadarshan, Manoj Joshi, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and writer Madhu Kishwar joined the march to hand over a memorandum signed by more than 40 personalities including actress Raveena Tandon.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

People are alleging that the "award-wapsi" campaign was to defame the country by projecting a "wrong" picture of the situation.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

"People returning awards are doing a childish act. They should use the power of pen. Instances of intolerance have always been there. It is not something that happened yesterday. Shah Rukh Khan never said he is returning award," filmmaker Priyadarshan said.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

At least 75 members of the intelligentsia have returned national or literary awards in an escalation of protests by writers, historians, filmmakers and scientists over "growing intolerance", voicing fears that the country's robust democracy might be "coming apart" in the current atmosphere.

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

it is being said that the protest is Politically motivated, but the BJP-led government has dismissed the protest as "manufactured rebellion".

In pics: Anupam Kher leads #MarchforIndia

People are countering the protests by writers and artistes against "rising intolerance" and are tryingto tell the world that India is tolerant.

OneIndia News